The District of Columbia has filed a court response opposing attempts by SeatGeek and Vivid Seats to block a local law capping ticket resale markups at 10 percent. City attorneys argue the platforms are using constitutional arguments to mask what is essentially a policy dispute, accusing them of seeking a “judicial veto” over legislation they oppose on business grounds.
The dispute centers on a D.C. ordinance intended to limit price gouging on resold tickets, a measure that resale marketplaces have pushed back against in multiple jurisdictions. SeatGeek and Vivid Seats contend the cap infringes on their rights, while the city maintains the law is a legitimate consumer-protection measure within its regulatory authority.
The case adds to a broader pattern of legal and legislative battles between secondary ticketing platforms and lawmakers over resale pricing rules, as cities and states weigh further restrictions on markups in the live events market.
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